Basses for bassists with back issues

[tminus10]

Mike lull is chambering all his alder body basses now. My PT4 is 7.8 lbs. His P basses are a little lighter I think as Im sure my Gibson style pick ups add a few onces. Plus they balance very well which of course is important too.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

.....aggravated by reach much more than weight...

Fender Mustang Bass!

 

[JxBass]

My good friend plays 100+ gigs per year and gives his back a rest by putting down his Fender Jazz for a $79 Rogue for 1-2 sets.

 

[Versatek6]

Cort Curbow

Spector Spectorcore

 

[Ed Goode]

Just do it .... contact Lee Barker @ barkerbass.com

These basses were specifically designed for bassists with back issues. It is a standard 34" scale, 4 or 5 string, fretted or fretless (mine is a custom 6 35" scale) and can be used for any situation where you are currently playing a slab bass.

Link Removed

Happens to be a used Barker 4 in the TB FS (not mine) for crazy cheap money
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/fso-barker-b1-vertical-bass-33-excellent-condition-804833/

These basses are of superior build quality and have huge tonal variety, really should check them out if you have back issues ....

 

[oddeotek]

Peavey T40

That's funny! I saw one of those (back in the 70's) that was 13lbs! Heaviest bass I ever tried but it sounded great.

 

[BartmanPDX]

I have major back problems and have had surgery. Most of my gigs are four hours long. Weight does matter.

I usually play a Sadowsky Will Lee that weighs 7.8 lbs. I can play it all night without getting sore. My Rob Allen is even lighter at around 6.5 lbs. or so.

As far as Steinbergers being light, I guess the newer wooden ones are, but my original graphite XL-2 weighs well over 9 lbs. It's crazy heavy because that composite material they used was so dense.

 

[parsons]

I've found EBMM Sterling basses to be quite light... Makes sense with their smaller sized headstock and body...

I think early '80's Ibanez Roadstar basses are also quite light... So much so, that I'm thinking about ways to actually add weight to mine!

My 81 roadster isn't light. Over 9 lbs. My Sterlings are all right around 9lbs or more. You have to search to find a light EBMM.

 

[ksandvik]

My 81 roadster isn't light. Over 9 lbs. My Sterlings are all right around 9lbs or more. You have to search to find a light EBMM.

EBMM SUBs are pretty light.

 

[Stilettoprefer]

Could always do a build with one of those Pawlonia P or J bodies from GFS. I have shoulder problems and did a build with on of their P bodies and that is the lightest bass I have ever played.

 

[ksandvik]

Just a note, the lighter the body, the less mass vibration. If you run zillions of effects into a hight-power amp, few will notice. If you do subtle recordings or play at lower volumes where the original bass sound is shining through, such light-weight basses tend to have less character.

 

[deepdown]

Cort Curbow, under 7 lbs.

 

[KingRazor]

Ibanez Soundgear.

 

[deepdown]

Just a note, the lighter the body, the less mass vibration. If you run zillions of effects into a hight-power amp, few will notice. If you do subtle recordings or play at lower volumes where the original bass sound is shining through, such light-weight basses tend to have less character.

Very true! My 9.6 Lbs. '96 Fender Precision (passive) when recording, tears the Cort Curbow a new one, and the Curbow has Bart and pre-amp!

 

[Rip Topaz]

Interesting thread. I just gave up on my Thunderbird as my main player because after 5 back surgeries in the last 3 years, it was becoming too uncomfortable to play.

I switched to a P. MUCH better at 7.5 pounds. Plus, it doesn't cause me to twist at the waist while playing it.

 

[darkstorm]

Smalll to medium size body basses with basswood or mahogany body as best general conditions for repeatedly finding basses with low weight.

 

[RobJ]

I'm hoping the day comes where some very famous bass player validates the Barcalounger recliner as an acceptable piece of stage gear...

That bit of lunacy aside you can't get much lighter than a Hofner I think.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Dingwall ABZ's and ABI's tend to be pretty light, generally in the 8 lb range.

 

[greggster59]

Birdsong Cortobasses weigh a little less than 7 lbs. and sound huge.

 

[lomo]

Just a note, the lighter the body, the less mass vibration. If you run zillions of effects into a hight-power amp, few will notice. If you do subtle recordings or play at lower volumes where the original bass sound is shining through, such light-weight basses tend to have less character.

How much the body vibrates has more to do with resonance than weight. Sadowsky and others like Elrick, etc make plenty of sub-8 lb basses that sound plenty heavy, and I have heard thin sounding basses over 10 lbs.